VELLORE: Doctors at the Government Vellore Medical College have revived a nine -year-old boy who was admitted a fortnight ago with symptoms of a deadly auto immune disease.
Dr Theranirajan, head of the department of paediatrics, told Express that the boy, Udayakumar, son of a daily wager from Vaniyambadi, was brought to the hospital with symptoms of paralysis and subsequently diagnosed with the Gullain Barre syndrome (an immune disorder that affects the nervous system).
A team of doctors from the department of paediatrics and neurology (led by Dr Ravikumar) was formed and various tests, including cerebrospinal fluid analysis and MRI images, confirmed the damage caused to the spinal cord and the nervous system.
According to Theranirajan, Gullian Barre syndrome is rare medical condition where there is a rapid onset of weakness of the limbs as a result of an acute polyneuropathy, a disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system. The disease is usually triggered by an infection, which provokes immune mediated nerve dysfunction.
“After doctors diagnosed the disease, we ordered for life-saving immunoglobulins injections which are very expensive, costing `25000 per day. Thankfully, the Chief Minister’s comprehensive health insurance scheme helped the boy’s family n purchasing the medicines,” noted dean Dr Sithi Athya Munavarah.
After five days of treatment, the boy responded and has since recovered and is normal now. The same treatment in a private hospital would have cost around Rs Five lakhs, she said adding that the boy was treated free of cost at the hospital.
What is more, the boy has recovered completely from the deadly disease. He is being monitored and will be discharged soon, she added.